Awang Tengah makes fun of Chong's mistake

By Simon Peter

KUCHING, May 13, 2014: Public Utilities Minister Awang Tengah Ali Hasan made fun of a mistake by Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen who addressed Sarawak Energy Berhad's chief of corporate services Aisah Eden as a "male".

Chong, who is also the Kota Sentosa State Assemblyman, in a press statement on April 23, 2014 had mistakenly addressed Aisah as one of the male expatriates receiving high salary from SEB.

He, however, corrected the mistake the same day.

Awang Tengah, in replying to points raised during the debate on the Governor's Royal Address, said:" Ahli Yang Berhormat for Kota Sentosa (Chong) has erroneously claimed in his written press statement on April 23, 2014 that one of SEB’s senior management staff by the name of Aisah Eden was a “highly paid male expatriate”.

"By the way, Aisah Eden is actually a female, perempuan and a Sarawakian," he said.

Chong, stood up and clarified that he had made the correction with the media, even before the publication of the newspaper.

" It is just that SEB try to, try to play out the whole issue. I have made the correction with the media before the publication, one hour after my press conference," he said.

On the engagement of expatriates on contract basis by SEB, Awang Tengah said that they are hired to train Sarawakians through knowledge transfer in areas of expertise.

He said that SEB has 4,000 Sarawakians employees of which 1,820 were recruited since 2010.

He added the number of expatriates in SEB has decreased from a maximum of 19 to only six in 2013.

"The reduction in the number of expatriates is as planned and not because due to DAP’s demand," he explained.

 On the issue of consultants, he said that SEB has engaged renowned international companies to undertake consultancy works for large hydroelectric dams, new thermal plants and 500kV backbone system in Sarawak.

"Every utility company in the world relies on globally qualified consulting firms to support the design process for large investments.

"In earlier years, these feasibility and design services were carried out in the consultants’ own countries -  Germany, China and Australia.

"As the number of projects increased, incurring large investment amount, it becomes cost effective for SEB that the consultants establish offices and employ locals to undertake the jobs in Sarawak.

"The consultancy panels currently working with SEB on project specific works are MWH of USA, SMEC of Australia, Entura of Australia, NWH of China, Parson and Brinkhoff of US and including

Norconsult/Norpower of Norway.

"This will further benefit SEB staff from the experience of working with experts of international calibre. The consultants are selected through competitive bidding.

"Norconsult/Norpower was selected through this process competing with over 20 other bidders from around the world," he said.